Saturday, February 28, 2009

William Dembski and Michael Ruse debate intelligent design to a packed at Paul F. Sharp Concert Hall. The debate allowed two prolific philosophers of science a chance to share their arguments. (Photo by Adam Greenlee)

Intelligent Design Debate Allows Students to Hear Both Sides of the Argument.

The gloves came off Friday night at Paul F. Sharp Concert Hall between two prolific philosophers when each debated the validity of whether intelligence design is science or not. The debate allowed students and attendees to hear both sides of the argument.

The purpose of the debate was to present both principles and allow people to decide.The debate was between Michael Ruse, author and founder of the journal Biology and Philosophy, and William Dembski, professor of philosophy at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. Dembski took the side of intelligent design while Ruse argued against. The two philosophers were each given 20 minutes to argue their points. They were then each given a rebuttal and asked questions from a split audience. The tone between them were civil and professional. Each complemented the other, and added in playful jokes about the other's ideas.

The event was one of many events relevant to the theory of evolution on the University of Oklahoma in celebration of Charles Darwin 200th birthday. For the entire month of February, OU hosted many lectures on campus pertaining to the english naturalist. On Feb. 12, the University kicked off the celebration of Darwin at the Sam Nobel Oklahoma Museum of Natural History where multiple professors from an array of disciplines gave lectures on how evolution is relevant to their study. Stephen Olson, Energy Management junior, said he appreciates the university hosting these functions. Olson said bringing figures like Ruse and Dembski opens needed discussion.

"I think it is a good thing OU is inviting famous researches to hold a dialogue and debate," Olson said. "A lot of people that I know disagree with such figures like Michael Ruse and Richard Dawkins that it's good to for them to hear points-of-view different from their own."

Olson said he believed these forums will benefit OU students; however, he is concerned about how much the University is paying these figures during times of tuition increases. The celebration of Darwin will continue to Mar. 6 when Richard Dawkins, world-renowned zoologist and evolutionary biologist, will speak at OUs campus.

Listen to what Olson had to say about the university hosting the lectures.

Tuesday, February 24, 2009

Sunday, February 22, 2009

Oklahoma students simply type the name of their school into the search. The new gossip site College Anonymous Confession Board boasts of boards pertaining to college campuses across the country.

New College Gossip Web Site Allows Oklahoma Students to Create Anonymous Posts

Although JuicyCampus dried up earlier this February, a similar site plans to take its place, allowing Oklahoma students, once again, to post gossip under anonymity about their university.

The Web site Anonymous Confession Board, or CollegeACB.com, allows students to create accounts with university email addresses and post anything, just like its defunct predecessor JuicyCampus.com. Topics on the sites range from current events to personal attacks. The website, however, does bear noticeable differences than Juicy Campus. CollegeACB allows user moderation, something missing from JuicyCampus. Registered users can also be banned from the site.

Students across campus are beginning to take interest in the site, and have already posted many discussions relevant to current issues around campus. The site redirects students from the JuicyCampus's old URL and already contains an array of posts from OU students on a whim. The site seeks to provide college students with a place to discuss issues relevant to their university's atmosphere, according to the Web site's mission statement. Although the site already proves popular among Oklahoma students, some students voice dissidence to the new sites and others like it. Talon Christian, international business sophomore, said he believes the site takes away from the uniqueness of college life.

"The whole purpose of college is to reinvent yourself, and any spiteful person with a keyboard can ruin it," Christian said. "There's no validity in sites like this. They're worse than Wikipedia."

Christian said he plans to never visit the site; however, others say they may give into temptation. CollegeACB's blog stated it plans to use the recent shutting down of JuicyCampus to become its replacement.

Wednesday, February 18, 2009

Students receive packets with information before entering the fair. The fair provided students an easier way of deciding a major.

University of Oklahoma Hosts Minor and Major Fair

The colleges that make up the University of Oklahoma came together Wednesday to hold the Minor and Majors allowing students find a major and minor that fits their interest of study.

Students poured into the Molly Shi Boren Ballroom on the third floor of the Oklahoma Memorial Union where they are met by representatives from an array of colleges. Every college from the College of Arts and Sciences to Michael F. Price College of Business presented booths covered in information and freebies. The event also sports a theme each year, this year's being "Explore New Worlds." Lisa Portwood, director at Center of Student Advancement, put the fair together and said it grows every annually since its starting five years ago.

Portwood said that freshmen do better academically if they know what their major is. Bringing representatives from each college together gives students an easier means of weighing their options and obtaining information. The fair also gave away two scholarships and a $250 book voucher to students.

"The Committee and I applaud everybody's willingness to make this happen," Portwood said. "It's stressful when we begin, but it always ends up beautiful."

The Major and Minor fair happens every February. On Thursday, Construction Science will host a career fair in the same room at 4 p.m.

Sunday, February 15, 2009

The Whitest Kids U' Know are Coming to Norman

The comedy troupe Whitest Kids U' Know will stop by Norman Feb. 17 to give a free premiere of their new film Miss March to OU students.

Shagah Zakerion, Public Relations/Political Science major and CAC Film Series chair, said the troupe will come to the campus as part of their campus tours where they perform at different universities. Since movie release coincided with the tour, Film Series was able to premiere the film as well. Trevor Moore and Zach Cregger, two of the members in the group, will be present at the screening and will take questions after the movie.

Zakerion said they regularly premiere film at the campus theater, but due to a booking conflict they were forced to move the film to Hollywood Theaters. Premieres are free, but students must obtain a pass which can be printed off from the events Facebook page. Zakerion said this is a unique event for OU students and encourages everybody to attend.

"Moroch Entertainment in OKC is helping promote the film and since we often work with them on campus premiers, they couldn't resist bringing them to Norman again," Zakerion said. "Things like this don't happen in Oklahoma very often and if you love film, this is an opportunity you cannot miss."

The film will start at 6 p.m.; however, Zakerion said due to overbooking, those interested should show up early to ensure a seat. A synopsis of the film can be found on the Facebook page.

Friday, February 13, 2009

Free condoms, lubricants and information packets lie on a table in the OU student union to celebrate National Condom week. OU Women's Outreach Center and Planned Parenthood sponsor the event.

OU Students Celebrate National Condom Week

Planned Parenthood and the OU Women's Outreach Center teamed up to host the annual National Condom Week at the University of Oklahoma by handing out free condoms and information promoting safe sex to students.

Every year universities across the United States celebrate National Condom Week in order to educate students about safe sex. The event started at the University of California-Berkley in 1978 and made its way to OU in the mid-1990s. Terry Dennison, director of education services at Planned Parenthood, said he has participated in National Condom Week ever since it made its way to OU's campus. Dennison said National Condom Week happens every February prior to Valentines Day and its purpose is to inform students.

Dennison sets up a table in the student union that offers students an array of information, lubricants and, of course, condoms. University of Oklahoma sexperts hand out condoms on the south oval to students passing by. Political Science major Nick Beckworth helps out by offering students information at the table set up in the student union. Beckworth said he decided to participate in the event because he feels it offers students vital information.

"Safe sex is the best sex," Beckworth said. "I do this to spread awareness. Condoms are important."

Dennison said he plans on participating in Condom Week next year at OU.

Sunday, February 8, 2009

The national student organization Students for Concealed Carry on Campus is planning on bringing its cause to the University of Oklahoma.

Ethan Israel, Energy Management Sophomore and president of the Oklahoma chapter of SCCC, said the group registered as an official Student Life organization and currently bears over 50 members, according to the group's Facebook page. The national, grassroots organization is composed of over 36,000 college students, professors and faculty from all over the nation, according to the official Web site. The group believes that licensed handguns should not be prohibited from college campuses.

Oklahoma, like the majority of other states, bans licensed handguns from college campuses. The organization said it hopes to remove this prohibition, according to the official Web site. Israel said there has been much demand by fellow students for the organization to come to the OU campus.

"Police can't stop a school shooting," Israel said. "I think responsible people should be able to protect themselves."

Israel said he hopes to hold the first meeting this semester and students interested can visit the Facebook page for more information and updates.

Wednesday, February 4, 2009

JuicyCampus.com's founder said in his blog Feb. 4 that he plans shutting down the controversial, college gossip site.

Founder and CEO Matt Ivester said in his blog Wednesday that he will close down the Web site due to a mixture of outpaced growth and economic downturn. The site claims to have expanded to over 500 college campuses, including the University of Oklahoma.

Over the past year the site has made its mark at OU with some post views ranging in the thousands. Posts include everything from reinforcing Greek stereotypes to unfettered personal attacks -- all uncensored and anonymous. Some universities have tried to pass resolutions blocking the Web site; however, universities like OU continue to allow students to post. But even its massive appeal to curious college students was not enough to keep JuicyCampus alive, according to Ivester's blog.

"While there are parts of JuicyCampus that none of us will miss -- the mean-spirited post and personal attacks -- it has also been a place for the fun, lighthearted gossip of college life," Ivester wrote in his blog. "I hope that is how it is remembered."

Ivester said he plans shutting the Web site down Feb. 5, just a day after his announcement.